Container



June 22, 1965 B. J. TAMARlN CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1'7, 1959 INVENTOR.

A Tfa/Wax June 22, 1965 B. J. TAMARIN 3,190,534

.CONTAINER Filed July 1'7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1955 B. J. TAMARIN CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 17, 1959 United States Patent 3,190,534 CUNTAKNER Bernard Eacques Tamarin, Whitcnrarsh, Pa.

(West Valley Green Drive and Hunt Lane, Flourtown, Pa.) Substituted for abandoned application Ser. No. 591,374,

done 14, 1956. This application July 17, 1959, Ser. No.

15 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention relates to containers having a dispensing opening and a closure slide adapted to cover the opening, concerning especially reinforcement of one or more sides of such a container formed from a unitary packaging blank, as Well as the blank itself.

My copending patent applications, Serial Nos. 577,142 filed April 9, 1956 and 743,127 filed June 19, 1958, subsequently issued as Patents 2,931,553 and 2,901,097, respectively, describe and illustrate dispensing containers characterized by a captive closure slide adapted to reciprocate to uncover and recover the dispensing opening, and the present application relates to reinforcement of those or similar containers in the vicinity of the dispensing opening. This application also is in part a substitute for my intervening patent application, Serial No. 591,374 filed June 14, 1956 and since abandoned.

A primary object of the present invention is provision of a substantially rigid dispensing case or container of customary pocket size. An object is improvement of a unitary packaging blank for use in formation of such a case or container. A particular object is construction of a crush-proof cigarette package having a sliding top closure. Other objects of this invention, together with means and methods for attaining the various objects will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to this invention, especially the closure portion thereof in the vicinity of the dispensing opening; FIG. 1a is a transverse section through a portion of the article of FIG. 1, as indicated; FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the container shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 but somewhat changed in position and with the closure slide retracted to uncover the dispensing opening; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of a packaging blank adapted for use in the container of the preceding views; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the packaging blank shown in FIG. 3 but with a reinforcing flap thereof changed in position; FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the bottom portion of a packaging blank useful in forming a container constructed according to this invention; and FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the bottom portion of a container (showing the interior thereof) formed from the blank of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the top portion of a container according to this invention; PEG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a unitary packaging blank adapted to form a container conforming to FIG. 7 and the preceding views; FIG. 9 is a perspective View of the top portion of a container according to this invention; FIG. 9A is a view of part of the container portion shown in FIG. 9 with an element removed; FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a unitary packaging blank adapted to form a container conforming to FIG. 9 and all preceding views except portions of FIGS. 7 and 8; FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a modification of packaging blank adapted for use in construction of a container according to this invention; FIG. 12 is a plan view of the same portion of packaging blank shown in FIG. 11 but with reinforcing flaps turned down; and FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a corner portion of a container formed from the packaging blank of FIGS. 12 and 13.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished, in a container having a sidewall and a dispensing opening adjacent to the sidewall and having a captive closure piece slidable to uncover and recover the dispensing opening, by means of a flap integral with the sidewall and hinged thereto alongside the dispensing opening and adapted to fold against the inside surface of the sidewall as a reinforcement therefor. The invention contemplates particularly production of such a container from a unitary (i.e., one-piece) packaging blank having a substantially rectangular tab adapted to comprise the slidable closure piece, a substantially rectangular panel portion of the body of the blank adapted to form such a sidewall, and having such a flap extending from a narrow edge of that panel portion of the body of the blank. The invention comprehends also provision of two or more reinforcing flaps, including especially a pair thereof adapted to flank the dispensing opening, preferably having ridges integrally formed therein and adapted to support the closure slide.

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, container 11 with only the upper left corner portion being shown in solid lines: i.e., the part in the vicinity of the visible part of closure slide 25, which overlies the dispensing opening and is bounded by opposing free top edges 42 and 44, by rolled edge 37 at the top of narrow panel 3, and by an edge of the visible top flap. Shown in broken lines is internal reinforcing flap 23 outlined against narrow panel 3, which joins the visible wide panel along a vertical edge line. The rest of the container is generally parallelepipedal, the configuration being shown in alternating long and short broken lines. FIG. 1a shows (fragmentarily) wall panel 3 and adjacent flap 2.3 in transverse section, revealing the curved outline of rolled edge 37 at the top; a portion of slide 25 also appears in section, the slide being closed in this View (the contents eing omitted from the view for the sake of clarity).

FIG. 2 shows (enlarged) portion 11a of the container shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 but here reoriented a quarter-turn clockwise (about its vertical axis) from the previous position and with the closure slide retracted to reveal cigarettes 2% through the visible dispensing opening. This view also shows portion of wide sidewall 2 at the front, and wide sidewall 4 at the rear, with respective top edges 42 and &4 flanking the dispensing opening. Also visible in greater detail are rolled top edge 37 of reinforcing flap 23, and an edge of closure slide 25 protruding from under top closure flap 24, at the opposite side of the dispensing opening.

FIG. 3 shows, in plan, portion 1a of packaging blank adapted to form the container previously shown, especially the portion thereof visible in FIG. 2. Wide wall panels 2 and 4 flan-k narrow wall panel 3, which is delineated therefrom by welts or fold lines '7 and 8, respectively, which are formed by scoring the back or opposite face of the blank. The narrow panel has long rectangular flap 23 attached thereto along scored junction line 27. The visible surface of flap 23 is stippled to indicate pre ence of adhesive thereon. Free top edges 42 and 4dof the respective wide wall panels are aligned with (and flank) flap junction 2'7. Also aligned with the free edges and flanking them are Welts or fold lines 26 and 28 at the respective junctions of flaps 2?. and 24 with wall panels 2 and 4, respectively. The latter flaps extend outward from the wall panels for about half the length of long flap 23. FIG. 4 shows the same portion of packaging blank as in PEG. 3 but with flap 23 turned down along its junction with the narrow wall panel into contact with the near face of that panel, to which it adheres by virtue of the intervening adhesive.

FIG. 5 shows, in plan, bottom portion 1b of a blank suited to form the bottom of container 11. At the bottom edge of the blank, wide panel 2 has substantially rectangular flap 12 extending from it over essentially the entire width of the panel, with welt or fold line 16 separating flap and panel. Panel 4, which is similar to panel 2 but is separated from it by narrow panel 3, has slightly larger rectangular flap 14 extending from it over the entire width of the panel, with welt or fold line 18 intervening, the transverse dimension of flap 14 closely approximating the width of the narrow panel. Narrow panel 5, which is substantially as wide as panel 3, is flanked by welts or fold lines 9 and 10, the latter of which forms the junction with narrower lap panel 6. Panel 3 and similar narrow panel 5 have at the bottom substantially trapezoidal tabs 13 and 15, respectively, joined to the body of the blank at their bases along aligned respective welts or fold lines 17 and 19 (slightly offset from corresponding welts or fold lines 16 and 18 for the flaps, and from one another, to compensate for the thickness of the blank when folded). The individual bottom flaps and tabs extend from the body of the blank to more than the width of one of the paired narrow panels.

FIG. 6 shows, in perspective, bottom portion llb suited for use in a container having the features of this invention. The illustrated portion is formed in conventional manner by tucking and folding toward the interior (depicted in this view with the contents omitted) the tabs and flaps of the same blank shown in the preceding view, after the pair of wall panels of the blank have been spaced parallel to one another and perpendicular to and joining the wide wall panels. Tabs 13 and are visible closest to the interior, large flap 14 on the exterior at the bottom, and smaller flap 12 intervening.

The remaining top corner of the container of this invention, being located away from the dispensing opening, may be of any suitable construction compatible with operation of the closure slide. Examples of suitable structures of component blanks, as well as resulting container configurations, appear in subsequent views.

FIG. 7 shows, in perspective, top container portion 110, suited for use as part of container 11, the dispensing opening being shown uncovered. The left part of this view is like that shown in FIG. 2 except that the contents are omitted to show more of the interior, especially reinforcing flap 23 and wide wall panel 4 at the rear. At the right in this view the construction resembles that disclosed in the more recent of my previously mentioned copending patent applications. Narrow wall panel 5 has top portion 5' swinging outward toward the viewer along transverse fold line 49 to withdraw part of closure slide 25, to which it is hinged along fold line 29, from under the edge of flap 24. Triangular notch or indentation 47, is present in the narrow edge of the flap to facilitate manipulation of the slide by manual contact with the exposed portion of its top surface. The near edge of the movable wall portion adjoins strip 6' shown in further detail in the next view.

FIG. 8 shows, in plan, top portion 1c of a blank conforming to the fragment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and adapted to form the container portion shown in FIG. 7. In addition to the features already illustrated this view reveals notch 43 in the left edge of flap 22, which underlies flap 24 in the folded container, also showing slits 39 and 40, which are instrumental in permitting movement of top portion 5' of the narrow panel together with top portion 6' of even narrower lap panel 6. Slit 39 separates top portions of panels 4 and 5 from one another between the left edges of transverse line 49 and transverse line 29 at the top of the blank, while slit crosses the lap panel obliquely upward from the outer edge to terminate at the opposite end of the lower transverse line. The major portion of the lap panel adheres to wide panel 2 at the left, as suggested by stippling to denote adhesive present thereon. It will be apparent that flap 23 is folded down first. Then flap 25, which forms the closure slide, is folded down before closure flap 24, and preferably before smaller closure flap 22, as well.

If desired, the blank may be formed with the lap panel adjoining panel 2 instead of panel 5, in which event the slide and adjoining hinged wall portion would not be partially enclosed at the side in the open position by a striplike portion such as 6'. Also, the notching to expose a portion of the slide could be omitted, preferably with addition of a projection or the like in the vicinity of fold line 29 to facilitate withdrawal of the slide to the open position. Alternatively, the slide or connection thereof to the blank may be varied considerably, and an example of such variation appears in the next few views.

FIG. 9 shows, in perspective, top container portion 11d, also suited as part of container 11 and also shown with the dispensing opening uncovered. The right part of this view resembles that construction disclosed in the earlier of my mentioned copending patent applications. Portion 55 of the slide is visible protruding from under the flaps and beyond wall panel 5, while the rest of the slide is hidden except at ears 46 and 48, which are visible protruding from under the respective near and far long edges of the closure flaps. Only flap 24' (the primed 5 reference numeral distinguishing it from corresponding outer flap 24 of preceding views) is visible, hiding flap 22' (corresponding to previous flap 22). The slide is moved back and forth to uncover and recover the dispensing opening by grasping the protruding ears and sliding them along respective slots 36 and 38 (shown more clearly in the next view).

FIG. 10 shows, in plan, top portion 1d of a packaging blank conforming to fragment 1a shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 adapted to form the container top shown in FIG. 9. It will be apparent that the flap to constitute the closure slide is composed of outer or upper portion 53, which carries ears 46 and 48 at its opposite side edges, and lower portion 55, which is attached to the blank along perforated junction line 52. Perforated line 54 forms the junction between the respective portions of this flap. In forming the container of the preceding view this flap is folded down along perforated junction line 52 to place the ears of the outer flap portion in the slots at the junction of flaps 22' and 24' before the latter flaps are folded down against respective supporting wall panels 2 and 4, reinforcing flap 23 previously having been folded down against wall panel 3 as in the previous embodiment. It will be apparent that before the flap can form the slide, as in FIG. 9, it is detached in any convenient manner, preferably by shearing or cutting along junction line 52 during the folding of the blank to form the container top: of course, once the slide is moved to uncover the dispensing opening, as shown, protruding portion 55 may be removed along perforated junction line 54 and discarded. The resulting appearance (fully open position) is shown in FIG. 9A. Alternatively, if desired, portion 55 of the flap may be removed by separation along both perforated lines 52 and 54 during the folding operation to leave only portion 53 in place as the slide, corresponding in either event to slide 25 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 illustrate another embodiment of this invention. FIG. 11 shows, in plan, fragment 1e of a blank differing from that shown in FIG. 3 only in having two additional reinforcing flaps 62, 64 joined to panels 2 and 4, respectively, along respective welts or fold lines 66 and 68, scored from the opposite side of the blank and located where free top edges 42 and 44 are in blank 1a. These added flaps have adhesive thereon, as indicated by stippling of their visible surface, and are crossed by deep scores 67 and 69 located parallel and close to their fold lines.

FIG. 12 shows the blank fragment of FIG. 11 with all three reinforcing flaps turned down against the visible 7 surface of their respective wall panels: flap 62 against panel 2, flap 23 against panel 3, and flap 64 against panel 4. In this position ridges 67' and 69 are visible extending outward, corresponding to the deep scoring of the opposite sides of the flanking pair of reinforcing flaps. Rolled top edges 76 and 78, which are formed by the downfolding of the ridged flaps, flank rolled top edge 37 formed similarly by central reinforcing flap 23.

FIG. 13 shows, in fragmentary sectional perspective, corner container portion Ille formed from the blank of the last two views. The section is taken through the dispensing opening transversely of the container (i.e., from one wide wall panel to the other). It shows closure slide 25 in an intermediate or half open position. Bottom side edges of the closure slide rest on the flap ridges, which extend slightly closer to one another than the width of the slide. Except for the reinforcement at the sides of the dispensing opening and this support at the sides of the closure slide, the last illustrated embodiment resembles those shown previously. If desired, reinforcing fiap 23 may be provided similarly with a ridge at the same level as the ridges in the other flaps to form a better seal with the closure slide in the closed portion.

The benefits of such reinforced construction in the vicinity of the dispensing opening of a container will be readily apparent, inasmuch as under ordinary circumstances such location is the weakest part of the container, especially when formed from a unitary packaging blank as is preferred according to this invention. The use of one or more flaps formed integrally with the container blank adds very little to the cost of manufacture, especially as compared with multilayer construction accomplished by use of inserts or the like. The rolled edge left where a flap is turned down is much more attractive and finished in appearance than an ordinary cut edge, as well as considerably less likely to become deformed. The benefit of side support of the closure slide has been noted above, being especially advantageous when a considerable part of the contents has been removed.

It will be apparent also that modifications and variations may be made in the structure illustrated and described above while retaining the major benefits of this invention. For example, the reinforcing flaps may be made longer or shorter or even narrower. The end reinforcing flap may be omitted entirely from the construction last detailed above, as may be the supporting ridges of the side fiaps, if their respective functions are not required. Adhesive to retain the reinforcing flaps in place may be located on the body of the blank rather than on the flap surface. Other constructions of closure slide, preferably retaining the captive feature of both constructions shown above, and modifications of the closure flaps bridging the part of the container along which it slides also may be employed without involving a departure from the claimed inventive concept.

The claimed invention:

1. In a container having a sidewall and a dispensing opening adjacent the side wall and having a captive closure piece slidable to uncover and recover the dispensing opening, the improvement comprising a substantially rectangular flap integral with the sidewall and hinged thereto alongside the dispensing opening and adapted to fold against the inside surface of the sidewall as reinforcement therefor.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the container has at least three sidewalls substantially bordering the dispensing opening.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein at least two sidewalls substantially bordering the dispensing openingh ave flaps integral therewith adapted to fold down against the inside surface of the sidewalls as reinforcement therefor.

4. Container comprising a first pair of sidewalls parallel to and spaced from one another, a second pair of sidewalls perpendicular to and joining the first pair of sidewalls, and an end panel bridging one pair of sidewalls and leaving a dispensing opening contiguous with parts of the sidewalls bridged thereby and with substantially all of one of the other sidewalls, a captive closure piece adapted to reciprocate along the end panel to uncover and recover the dispensing opening, and a reinforcing flap hinged to the edge of that other sidewall, the flap being folded against and adherent to the inside surface of that sidewall.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the portions of the bridged sidewalls contiguous with the dispensing opening have reinforcing flaps hinged thereto folded against and adherent to the inside surface thereof.

6. Packaging blank foldable to form a container having a captive closure piece slidable along an end thereof over a dispensing opening therein located adjacent a sidewall thereof, comprising a substantially rectangular tab or flap and adapted to comprise the slidable closure piece, first a substantially rectangular panel portion of the body of the blank adapted to form another sidewall located parallel to and spaced opposite the first sidewall, the tab or flap being hinged to and extending from that other sidewall, and another substantially rectangular panel portion of the body of the blank adapted to form that first sidewall and having hinged thereto and extending therefrom a flap adapted to fold against the latter panel portion of the body of the blank.

7. Packaging blank foldable to form a container having sidewalls and ends and having a captive closure piece slidable along an end thereof over a dispensing opening therein located adjacent substantially all of one sidewall thereof and portions of two other sidewalls thereof located parallel to and spaced apart from one another and perpendicular to and joining the first sidewall, comprising a substantially rectangular body portion having substantially rectangular panel portions adapted to form the sidewalls of the container, the edge of at least one of the panel portions having extending therefrom a flap adapted to fold against and reinforce the sidewall formed therefrom alongside the dispensing opening when the blank is folded into container form, and the edge of an other of the panel portions having a substantially rectangular tab or flap hinged to and extending from the body of the blank and adapted to form the slidable captive closure piece.

8. In a container formed from foldable sheet material and having a corner with a dispensing opening in one surface thereof and a captive closure piece adapted to reciprocate to uncover and recover the dispensing opening, the improvement comprising a rolled edge made up of at least two layers of the sheet material and bordering at least part of the dispensing opening.

9. In a container having a corner with a dispensing opening in one surface thereof and a captive closure piece adapted to reciprocate to uncover and recover the dispensing opening and having a plurality of wall panels alongside and perpendicular to the dispensing opening, the improvement comprising a reinforcing flap folded against and adherent to one of the wall panels, thereby forming a rolled edge alongside the dispensing opening.

it The article of claim 9 wherein the dispensing opening is bordered by at least a portion of each of three wall panels perpendicular thereto, at least two of the panels having reinforcing flaps folded against and adherent to the inside surface thereof.

11. The article of claim 16 wherein two panels flank the dispensing opening and each such panel has a reinforcing tab or flap folded down thereagainst and adherent thereto, and each reinforcing tab or flap has a ridge thereon located parallel and close to the rolled edge formed thereby, the ridges being effective to support the closure piece by contact with the underside thereof along its opposite edges.

12. In a unitary packaging blank of substantially uniform thickness throughout foldable to form a substantially rigid portable container having at one end thereof a closure piece movable therealong to uncover a dispens- '7 ing opening therein, the improvement comprising a pair of reinforcing flaps adjoining an edge of the blank and adapted to be folded against and adherent to opposite inside walls alongside the opening and the covering closure piece when the blank is folded into container form, each such reinforcing flap having parallel to the fold by which it is joined to the edge of the blank a ridge spaced from the junction by a distance approximating the thickness of the closure piece and spaced parallel to and apart from the ridge of the opposite flap by a distance less than the width of the closure piece, being thereby adapted to provide underlying support for the movable closure piece when folded into container form.

13. The article of claim 1 wherein the length of the integrally formed reinforcing flap is equivalent to a major portion of the height of the sidewall against which it is adapted to fold.

14. A packaging blank foldable to form a crushproof cigarette container having a substantially rectangular captive closure piece slidable along an end thereof over a dispensing opening therein, the closure piece being integral with the blank but detachable therefrom along a perforate junction therewith, and having integral flaps hinged to the body of the blank alongside the closure piece and ridged to form supports therefor on opposite walls of the container.

15. Container comprising a first sidewall and a pair of sidewalls flanking and adjoining the first sidewall, with a dispensing opening bounded by substantially all of an edge of the first sidewall and by a portion of an edge of each of the flanking sidewalls, and a captive closure piece adapted to move to uncover and recover the dispensing opening, each of those edges bordering the dispensing opening comprising at least two layers of sheet material folded over therealong with their adjacent faces inside the container being adherent to one another.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,697,664 1/29 Schweich 22917 1,951,274 3/34 Denman 22917 2,067,723 1/37 Nahm et a1 22917 2,330,926 10/43 Rous 22917 2,661,139 12/53 Brooks 22937 2,865,553 12/58 Wasyluka 22937 3,021,992 2/62 Phillips 229--175 3,026,013 3/62 Ullrich et al. 229-175 FOREIGN PATENTS 634,802 9/36 Germany.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, EARLE I. DRUMMOND,

Examiners. 

12. IN A UNITARY PACKAGING BLANK OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS THROUGHOUT FOLDABLE TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID PORTABLE CONTAINER HAVING AT ONE END THEREOF A CLOSURE PIECE MOVABLE THEREALONG TO UNCOVER A DISPENSING OPENING THEREIN, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A PAIR OF REINGORCING FLAPS ADJOINING AN EDGE OF THE BLANK AND ADAPTED TO BE FOLDED AGAINT AND ADHERENT TO OPPOSITE INSIDE WALLS ALONGSIDE THE OPENING AND THE COVERING CLOSURE PIECE WHEN THE BLANK IS FOLDED INTO CONTAINER FORM, EACH SUCH REINFORCING FLAP HAVING PARALLEL TO THE FOLD BY WHICH IS IT JOINED TO THE EDGE OF THE BLANK A RIDGE SPACED FROM THE JUNCTION BY A DISTANCE APPROXIMATING THE THICKNESS OF THE CLOSURE PIECE AND SPACED PARALLEL TO AND APART FROM THE RIDGE OF THE OPPOSITE FLAP BY A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF THE CLOSURE PIECE, BEING THEREBY ADAPTED TO PROVIDE UNDERLYING SUPPORT FOR THE MOVABLE CLOSURE PIECE WHEN FOLDED INTO CONTAINER FORM. 